Merry Christmas - new Doctor (13th) in the blue box. . .
'Brilliant!'
Tuesday, 26 December 2017
Tuesday, 12 December 2017
POST 21: THE SHAPES OF WORKING
As well as forcing a timeline onto the way my career(s) directed me towards a state of mind and conflated drawing styles resulting in this series of narrative editions called Ensixteen, I visualised the shifting paradigms of each as part of the string of new images used at the Small Publishers Fair talk I was to give.
Each one shows the subtle arrangements between writer and artist - the written word (and the ideas therein) and the creation of an image stemming from it. In the case of storyboarding the word reaches you via the brain of the director.
Illustration
Storyboarding
'bio auto graphic'
Each one shows the subtle arrangements between writer and artist - the written word (and the ideas therein) and the creation of an image stemming from it. In the case of storyboarding the word reaches you via the brain of the director.
Illustration
Storyboarding
'bio auto graphic'
Monday, 11 December 2017
POST 20: POINTY
How did I feel confident to direct the digit at the flaws & foibles of others. . ?
Who was I to be so presumptuous?
POST 18: A PARALLEL DEVELOPMENT
The wonderful Helen Mitchell, of the upcoming (at the time) Small Publishers Fair invited me to join their list of readers/speakers on the second day of the event - an already complex plot thickened.
I began to plan meticulously what I felt appropriate to say and show to relate the story of how I came to be doing this series.
How did I come to be telling my life as a book. . ?
Indeed - in 30 books to date. . ?
Wednesday, 22 November 2017
RIP Rodney Bewes (1937 - 2017)
Ooh, what happened to you, whatever happened to me?
What became of the people we used to be?
Tomorrow's almost over, today went by so fast
"You'll get yer money, Bob."
Tuesday, 21 November 2017
POST 17: SHELTER
Taking shelter under a rainbow of the eccentric British fantastical became a short, colourful indulgence within the spread of the whole planned volume.
One that also referenced the teetering edge of our politics, ecology and community health situations since the series began in 2004; The ruddy-cheeked Brexiteers, the dull blood stains on a Yorkshire pavement, the bright yellow hair of a nation's favourite blowhard.
Who wouldn't take shelter in the face of these things. . ?
POST 16: MEDICAL SUPPLIES
Fortuitously I was able to self-medicate in a bid to cure these lurking toxic uncertainties.
Calling upon avatars of a certain Timelord.
A green satin caped Jon one from 1973, a capering pair of colourful Bakerboys from the 80s and a resolute, saintly Paul from The Wilderness Period.
They saw off the worst of it.
POST 14: MY OWN WORST. . .
The road to creative satisfaction – through what ends up being a very busy period – is fraught with quiet anxieties and questions.
The Road Most Travelled, ironed out in the usual black-clad A5 sketch book.
Sunday, 19 November 2017
POST 13: NUCLEUS
Personal drives, inspirations and motives shape everything at a base level invisible to the naked eye.
POST 11: WORD & IMAGE. . .
Events overtook my initial plan of setting out a series of 30 posts in the lead-up to the Small Publishers Fair 2017 - which actually took place nearly two weeks ago.
However, I'm going to retrospectively complete my plan - for the record.
So - casting my mind back. . . The journey towards the edition continues as the days tick tock away through later October. . . My trusty notebook begins to amass thoughts in writing alongside images.
Saturday, 21 October 2017
POST No.7 - DOPPLER SHIFT TIC TOK
The Small Publishers Fair 2017 approaches - just under three weeks to go. . .
My trusty Danish fob watch (circa 1910) is counting me down; past, present, future. . .
Thursday, 5 October 2017
We Interrupt This Programme to Announce: The Corridor Pop-Up Book Squeeze!
All is in readiness - today til Sunday I'm exhibiting in esteemed company at this event. London N16 to London N7.
Harrington & Squires, Inkpot & Pen, Ambeck Design and I await the rush.
If you're in the vicinity do please drop by - 11am til 6pm.
Thursday, 28 September 2017
Sunday, 24 September 2017
Friday, 22 September 2017
POST NO.3 - Tick Tock Tick Tock
2004 - 2017 roughly equals 5000 days.
The next edition is merely number 30 - marry these numbers and this whole enterprise seems almost leisurely.
I must step up the pace.
POST NO.2: Synapse Spaghetti
A savoury tang in the air between my ears, these past few weeks. . .
Click on the image to glean a drop or two more.
Thursday, 21 September 2017
EDITION 30 AHOY! POST NO.1
Today I'm marking the formal start of work on the upcoming 30th edition of 'bio auto graphic'.
What follows – in an extended sequence of posts before completion – will be a trail of experiments, fragments, hints and whispers of what's to come.
As I look ahead, I also look back; here is an experiment with digital colour on my piece
'Word World Pt.1' (2006) - one of the key pieces in my development of the early series.
More to follow. . .
Sunday, 10 September 2017
RIP Gary Powell
Fond memories of this lovely guy, who sat back to back with me in my final year my St Martins School of Art BA, long ago and far away.
http://arts.brighton.ac.uk/staff/gary-powell
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it".
– Aristotle
Sunday, 20 August 2017
Sunday, 6 August 2017
Prestigious Benefactors
I am thrilled to mention that The British Library and Wellcome Library have both recently acquired the entire series of 'bio auto graphic' to date.
Ian Cooke and Debbie Cox were very welcoming at the BL.
At The Wellcome I enjoyed meetings with Loesja Vigour and Nicola Cook after an intro by Melanie Grant.
There is a link to a piece I wrote for the BL English and Drama blog here
Monday, 24 July 2017
WHO News 1
Absolutely brilliant news.
A fine actor.
The reason why this little show of 54 years and counting is very special.
Jodie Whittaker is The Doctor.
Nemesis of pernicious alien life-forms and small minds alike.
Tuesday, 11 July 2017
Mark My Words!
An enjoyable London Artists' Book Fair at Granary Square on Sunday.
I resurrected the 'bio auto graphic' bookmarks set in honour of the occasion. . .
I resurrected the 'bio auto graphic' bookmarks set in honour of the occasion. . .
Friday, 30 June 2017
BOOK FAIR ALERT! SUNDAY JULY 9th –
Next weekend sees the revived/regenerated/resuscitated London Artists' Book Fair - allied to the mighty House of Illustration and offering many visual and textual riches at Granary Square in the similarly revived Kings Cross area.
I will be exhibiting my own work and the gorgeous creations of my partner in crime, Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck.
The event is for one day only and will be an excellent antidote to the dreary last-ditch power plays of Westminster, and the droning of Andy Murray from the television.
It'd be a tonic to see you!
Thursday, 15 June 2017
Sunday, 11 June 2017
Borough Market - A Week Later: Sunday 11th June
The bells of Southwark Cathedral ringing, the heartache of another parting, the tidal surges of change and shift and all that they might bring.
A full stop ends a sentence but how we shape the words before that always offers hope.
I had to ask a heavily armed policeman advice on the best way back to London Bridge, where young Muslim women were handing out red roses to add to the latest impromptu memorial to events.
Sunday, 4 June 2017
We Are London? - Saturday 3rd / Sunday 4th June 2017
A morning to reflect and savour - dismiss death cults for what they are; the weakness of cowards who fear life.
The long-playing album 'The Liberty of Norton Folgate' by the band Madness to be played, loud.
My brother Andrew and I walked down to the Thames at Wapping the other week, looked down at the churning, brown, unlovely waters. Took a pint between Eastern and Western horizons.
A hangman's noose drifted in the breeze and it was a little cold.
++++++++
"We Are London"
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na
From Regent's Park mosque on to Baker
Street
Down to the Cross where all the
pipesmoke neat
To Somerstown where somethings never
stop
The Roundhouse, The Marathon Bar and
Camden Lock
You can make it your own hell or heaven
Live as you please
Can we make it if we all live together
As one big family?
Down to Chinatown for duck and rice
Along Old Compton Street, the boys are
nice
On Carnaby you still can get the threads
If you wanna be a mod, a punk, a ted or
a suedehead
You can make it your own hell or heaven
Live as you please
Can we make it if we all live together
As one big family?
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, we are
London
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, London's
talking
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, we are
London
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, London
walking
In all the nightclubs, strip joints and
the bars
From it's poorest paid to it's highest
stars
The poets, plumbers, painters, spreads
and sparks
From it's inner city to it's furthest
parts
You can make it your own hell or heaven
Live as you please
Can we make it if we all live together
As one big family?
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, we are
London
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, London's
talking
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, we are
London
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, London
walking
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na
by Cathal Smyth
Thursday, 27 April 2017
RIP Leo Baxendale
The bell has rung and school is out and the flags of Bash Street are flying at half-mast.
The master has left the Staff Room.
Saturday, 22 April 2017
Happy 80th Birthday, Mister Nicholson
Waitress:
"You want me to hold the chicken, huh?"
Jack Nicholson:
"I want you to hold it between your knees."
Wednesday, 29 March 2017
50?
Meanwhile. . .
An article of clothing falls from the Emperor's shoulders.
And on the BBC 'the people' lodge their current thoughts: Happy - worried - confused?
With emoji paddles.
"I choose to believe in Britain and that our best days lie ahead."
– T. May 29 / 3 / 17
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